Zoomed in: Five All Blacks to watch
OPINION: There are so many possible scripts that could play out in the Springboks-versus-All Blacks blockbuster at Ellis Park on Saturday.
While the result in the first of four Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tests remains the main objective, there will also be a few tasty subplots.
For both the Boks and the All Blacks, there will be players returning from injury, there will be those facing each other’s arch rivals for the very first time, and there will also be those seasoned campaigners out to prove they’ve still got it with the World Cup one year away.
And then there was all that talk about tactics in the build-up to the event…
With the first Test of the historic tour fast approaching, we focus on five All Black players and what makes them dangerous.
Ruben Love
He combined excellently with Jordie Barrett as the duo rotated in the playmaking role to devastating effect against the hapless Sharks, while he shook off his first missed kick at goal to contribute a total of seven conversions from all angles in the wet.
He has become the All Blacks’ first-choice No.10 and started in their Nations Championship wins at home over France, Italy, and Ireland.
His flair-filled running game and superb vision and awareness make it impossible not to get excited about him battling it out with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. What a spectacle that will be.
But it doesn’t matter who Love’s direct opponent is on any given day; he has brought a spark to the All Blacks, and it will be exciting to see what he cooks up against Rassie Erasmus’ unit.
Also read: Feinberg-Mngomezulu v Love: ‘They’re both young, they’re both pretty’
Jordie Barrett
The 29-year-old is frequently labelled the best inside centre in the world, but South Africans would certainly have something to say about that. And for good reason.
Bok midfielder Damian de Allende has cemented his name as one of the finest midfielders in world rugby and will take part in an epic duel against the All Blacks’ chief playmaker in the first Test.
While their styles of play and how they are utilised by their respective teams differ vastly, it will be a proper match-up between quite possibly the top two No.12s in the world nonetheless.
Barrett has become an increasingly vital cog in the New Zealand squad, with his vast skillset – in particular his exquisite balance of tactical accuracy and lethal touches off the boot, his hard running game, and that bullseye long pass – crucial in creating opportunities for his backline that will be hoping to be destructive in their exploits against the Boks.
Josh Moorby
The winger is steadily building his international portfolio, and the most important sample in that young collection will be his performances against the Springboks.
The in-form Moorby made his international bow during New Zealand’s Nations Championship campaign against Italy and wreaked havoc out wide, while he was just as impressive against Ireland.
He has a mean line-breaking ability, and those spot tackles and overall defensive savvy will be of utmost importance against South Africa’s many marked men, particularly their kick-chasers and the likes of Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and there’s no doubt that he’ll face a much sterner test in Johannesburg than he went up against in July.
He had a relatively quiet outing playing at fullback against the Stormers until his late try. And then there was that yellow card.
He was much more involved against the Bulls, but those games are hardly comparable to what they will face at Ellis Park.
Still, he is one to watch.
Cam Roigard
The exciting scrumhalf didn’t feature in New Zealand’s warm-up games against the South African franchises, and considering that he is by far their best scrumhalf at the moment, it’s no surprise that he got the nod to start even after not playing for a month.
Head coach Dave Rennie was confident when he gave the media an update on Roigard’s injury, saying that they expect him to be ready to go this weekend and that his recent lack of game time should leave him fresh.
How ‘fresh’ he’ll be will be revealed on Saturday; after all, a month is a long time to go without match minutes and then jump straight into action against a team that will no doubt push you to your limits physically.
But when he’s fit, he has the ability to make the biggest impact.
Ethan de Groot
The loosehead prop isn’t just a strong scrummager; he is also a huge presence in open play.
From concrete defence, powerful running that requires huge defensive effort to bring him down, and aggressive enthusiasm at the rucks, De Groot is a force to contain.
But he will be up against a different force this weekend, and if De Groot can limit the damage of the Boks’ otherworldly front-rowers, it will be one less thing for the visitors to worry about.
